Rabat – Morocco is expected to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr 2023 on Saturday, April 22, according to astronomy calculations.
Astronomer Hicham Aissaoui expects Ramadan to last 30 days, and therefore Eid Al Fitr date to be on Saturday, April 22.
The astronomer added that, unlike Morocco, other countries like Saudi Arabia are expected to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday, April 21.
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days depending on the crescent moon sighting.
The official dates for Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr are only determined following the crescent moon sighting by experts from Morocco’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs is set to call on religious committees to sight the crescent moon for the feast later this week.
Ramadan is expected to last 30 days this year. This will be the first time in five years that Moroccans complete a full month of fasting.
Saudi Arabia and other countries, meanwhile, are going to fast for only 29 days in 2023, according to similar astronomy predictions.
Moroccans celebrate Eid Al Fitr through morning prayers and other religious and social rituals and customs – including the exchange of visits and food.
Eid Al-Fitr is also an important event for children, who celebrate the feast with new outfits gifted to them by their parents.
Families gather for a morning breakfast during which a lot of sweets and delicious meals are served, including briouat, baghrir (Moroccan pancakes), mesemn (flat bread), and others.
